South Berwick girl presents NHL star Sidney Crosby with unique gift

Caelyn Parker of South Berwick had a chance to hand deliver one of her unique Smoke Head creations to NHL star Sidney Crosby Aug. 10.

SOUTH BERWICK- Caelyn Parker has crossed off some major bucket list items this summer, including meeting NHL star Sidney Crosby.

The recent meet-and-greet with Sid the Kid was a direct result of the 12-year-old South Berwick resident starting her own business venture, Caelyn’s Creations.

The creations – bonfire accessories she calls Smoke Heads – are hollowed out logs decorated with custom, handcrafted designs. The Smoke Heads are made to be set aglow with a fire starter or tea light that will illuminate the images Caelyn creates.

She had modest expectations in the early days of Caelyn’s Creations, hoping to sell enough pieces to help pay for the fees associated with her competitive ice hockey.

“We thought maybe we’d sell 20 at the most, but we’re at like 120,” said Caelyn, who has help from her parents, Shannon Parker and Heather Armstrong.

South Berwick resident Caelyn Parker, 12, designed this Smoke Head for NHL star Sidney Crosby and had the chance to deliver it to him in person Aug. 10.

Caelyn’s Creations has since caught the attention of several media outlets, and even an associate of Crosby, who learned that Caelyn crafted a special Smoke Head for the Pittsburgh Penguins star hailing from Nova Scotia.

“His people got in touch with me and just said that he was going to be at one of the rinks in the city and they said I could come out and watch his practice,” said Caelyn in a phone interview Aug. 12.

She was shocked to learn that this invitation would include a brief encounter with Crosby himself.

“I was just planning on dropping it off at the rink with the rink manager and just having him pick it up, but that was about ten times better,” she said.

Caelyn Parker of South Berwick had a chance to hand deliver one of her unique Smoke Head creations to NHL star Sidney Crosby Aug. 10.

“It was really exciting,.. he was
really
, really nice.”

Caelyn made two Smoke Heads for Crosby, incorporating an image of him hoisting the cup above his head, his number and the dates he won the cup
into
the designs.

“I think he liked it,” she said. “He said it was cool.”

The Grade 8 Berwick & District School student also had a chance to get her photo with Colorado Avalanche forwardNathan MacKinnon, a former Halifax Mooseheads star from Cole Harbour.

With summer coming to an end, her family in the midst of a move and her own hockey season fast approaching, Caelyn is determined to continue filling orders for Caelyn’s Creations throughout the busier months.

“We’ve had to stop taking custom orders right now because we have so many we have to keep up with as it is, but we’re going to start taking them again soon,” she said, noting that she started the business to do her part to help out after her mother, a teacher, became unable to work due to health complications.

“I think if we can keep it going it might help pay for school a little bit when I get older.”